Washing-machine



x w'r UNITED STATES `l-TEN T OFFICE.

CLARK ROBERTS, OF VVINGHESTER,` ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 28,409, dated May 22, 1860.

l of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for )VashingClothes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and cleardescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification,in which- Figure l, is a plan; Fig. 2, is a side elevation, with oneside removed; Fig, 3, is a side elevation of the opening bearingstandard; and, Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section of the same,through the line a2, ai, Fig. 3.

There have been many inventions and improveniente in machines for thepurpose of washing clothes, all intended to save labor and to cleanclothes without destroying them, none of which seem to have entirelyanswered the purpose to the satisfaction of the public. The one forwhich I now desire to obtain a patent, I have had in practical use, andhave found to answer every pur pose. as well for coarse as fine clothes.It consists simply of a peculiar arrangement and combination of levers,to which are attached beaters or pressers, with turners, shovers orstirrers, in a tub of ordinary and cheap construction, simple in itsnature and parts, not easily put out of order, and re quiring verylittle labor to operate.

I will now proceed to describe it in such manner, that others skilled inthe art may be enabled to make and use my invention.

It is needless to describe particularly the construction of an ordinaryoblong, rectangular tub, longer at the top than at the bottom, deeper atone end than the other, and the lower or deeper end of which isconstructed like an ordinary wash board.

The advantage of having a washboard at the lower end will be readilyperceived, for, by the peculiar construction and arrangement of thelevers in combination with the turners, they can be all laid back overthe operating shaft, by which operation you will have an ordinary washtub, (A,) with the wash board (13,) attached to the lower end, andthereby be enabled, without any additional trouble or expense, to washany particular portion of the article, which you may find, uponexamination, has not been thoroughly cleansed; as also to wash any smallpieces, such as collars, cuffs or lace as may be wanted.

My invention consists in the peculiar combination and arrangement of thearms or levers (0,), tothe lower ends of which beaters or pressers (1),)are attached, with the turners, punchers or stirrers (12,), the upperends of which are suspended, by means of pivots, to hangers or blocks (Fthe upper ends of which blocks are rigidly secured to the upper ends ofthe corresponding arms or levers; these are placed in the oblongrectangular tub (A), which is made of suitable dimensions, and aremounted `on an axle (G,) which passes through the sides of the tub, andthrough the arms or levers ((3,), near their upper ends, forming a pivoton which they turn; these arms or levers (C,) are operated by means ofcams (I,) attached to a horizontal shaft (J,), in this instance, havingfour sides to correspond with the number of levers to be operated, fromeach` of which a cam projects, so as to act consecutively upon thedifferent levers, by pressing upon small friction rolls (65,) arrangedand mounted in their rear ends for that purpose, thus depressing thoseends in regular succession, one after the other, as the shaft (J,) isturned, which is done by means of a crank or handle A(IL) as the upperend of one of the arms or levers `is depressed by its corresponding cam,the lower end, to which the beaters or pressers are attached, will beraised, and the hanger or block, fastened to,

its upper end will force the stirrer or turner,

which is pivoted to it, forward, the loweri end of which, coming incontact withthe clothes, which are` placed in the lowerend of the tub,will shove them down, pressindg and squeezing them against :the washboar and causing the top portion to roll over and over or turn; the camsbeing so arranged at equal distances apart, on the several differ entsides of the shaft, that, as the operation continues, they willsuccessively raise the several levers, one after another and keep up aneven and continuous motion.

The ends of the shaft (J,) are placed in bearings or standards (K,) and(K,); the front bearing (K,), which sustains the end to which the crankor handle (H) is attached, is strengthened for that purpose, and is o-fpeculiar construction, being composed of several parts, although ofgreat strength; these parts are united simply by pivots, the morereadily to enable the standard (K,) to be opened, and the shaft (J,) tobe unshipped when occasion may require. Fig. 3,

'represents this standard or bearing detached, in black ink, and open inredf b, is the part of the bearing which is to be rigidlyA secured tothe tub; 0, shows the hinged or movable portionf of the bearing, and isattached to the rigid portion by means of the pivot (f,) the strength ofthis bearing will be perceived by yan observation of the hinged cap (g,)which is doubled, and closes over the rigid as well as the pivotedportions of the bearing, when they are brought together to support theshaft, thus giving it the strength of 'a solid bearing, although havingthe advantage of being easily opened, and therefore more convenient andserviceable for the tting in and taking out of the shaft (J).

The levers or arms (C, C', C, C,) are kept in position, and preventedfrom swaying by means of braces (L,) secured to them on either side.

The operation of the machine is asi follows: Sufficient water or sudsbeing put in the tub (A,), the clothes to be Washed are placed in thelower end, against the ribs or wash board, partially beneath the lowerends of the levers or arms (C,), but in front of the feet of the turnersor stirrers (E,), and the operation commences by turning the crank1-1,), and, as the shaft (J,) turns, the first cam (1,) is pressedagainst the friction roll (a,), in the upper end of the rst lever ((3,),depressing that end and raising the other. As the upper end of the lever(0,) is depressed the turneror stirrer (E,) below it, which is pivotedtothe hanger or block (F,) which projects below Y from the upper end ofthe lever (0,) to

which it is rigidly attached at right angles, will be pressed forward,along the bottom of the tub, toward its lower end, and the under portionof the clothes will be caught by the foot or lower endof the turner orstirrer (E,), and forced or pressed against the lower end of the tub, soas to prepare that part of the clothes for the blow of its puncher orbeater (D) the beater (D) then falls, rubbing and sqeezing the clothesbetween it, (the beater (D,)) Vand the wash board (13,) and against theribs (in) squeezing and pressing the clothes down. As the lever (0,)falls, its accompanying turner or stil-rer (13),) is drawn back to itsoriginal position, at which time the next lever (C,) commences to rise,'and the next turner or stirrer (E) will, in turn, be forced down, and,catching the clothes which have fall-en or been pressed forward, willpress them back against the end, squeezing them in like manner as thefirst; and so on, in rotation, continuously and alternately rubbing,pressing and squeezing successively, while the machine is in operation.The practical eect of this conjoined action of the levers (0,) andpunchers or stirrers (E,), from their peculiar arrangement andconstruction, in combination with each other, being to keep the clothescontinuously in mot-ion in different directions, constantly changing orshifting their surfaces or exposed parts, while the rubbing, pressingand squeezing is going on. This is to be kept up until the tub ofclothes is thoroughly cleansed and the operation perfected; which willbe found to take but a comparatively brief period, and be anything but alaborious or expensive operation, and without injury to the articleswashed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters `Patent is l. The peculiarconstruction and arrangement of the levers in combination with theturners or stirrers substantially as described and for thepurposes setforth.

2. A hinged or opening shaft bearing, fastened and secured by a swingingcap (g,) substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand to this specification.

CLARK ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

N. HOWARD, W. J. WOODWARD.

